Google and the “Artificial Telepathy” Patent: What Happened?
Back in 2005, a patent surfaced that captured the public imagination, hinting at a future straight out of science fiction: “Artificial Telepathy.” Filed by inventors Lynne Moody and Miles Phillips Moody and later assigned to Google, this patent (specifically, the international publication WO/2005/055579 A1) didn’t describe mind-reading in the psychic sense, but rather a system designed to simulate telepathic communication using technology.
So, what exactly was this “artificial telepathy” system, what became of the patent, and where does the technology stand today?
What the Patent Described
The 2005 patent outlined a system primarily focused on creating a seemingly invisible and hands-free communication method. The core concept involved three core components:
- Implantable Transducers: Small devices implanted in the body, likely in the head or neck area. One would act as a microphone to pick up the user’s speech (perhaps even subvocalizations or throat movements), and another as a speaker to transmit audio directly audible to the user. These would communicate wirelessly over a short range.
- A Mobile Phone “Engine”: An external device, perhaps carried in a pocket or bag, that would interface with standard mobile phone networks. This engine would receive signals from the implanted microphone transducer and transmit audio to the implanted speaker transducer.
- Speech Recognition: The system would utilize speech recognition technology to allow users to control the mobile phone engine with voice commands, eliminating the need for manual interaction.
- Potential for Visual Information: The patent also envisioned a future enhancement that could include image transfer, potentially through devices connected to the eyes and a small camera.
The aim was to create an effect where individuals could communicate voice and potentially even image information with others on the network without any obvious external device, thereby simulating the characteristics of telepathy. The technobabble name for it would be something like highly advanced, body-integrated mobile communication system designed for invisibility and convenience. I’m sure Google would have come up with a far more catchy name if (or when?) it took off.
What Happened to the Patent?
The bad, or maybe good news is that patents, including this one, have a limited lifespan. Generally, utility patents offer protection for 20 years from the date of filing. The international application (PCT/AU2004/000002) for this “System for Producing Artificial Telepathy” was filed in January 2004, leading to its publication in June 2005. This means the patent’s protection period would have expired around January 2024, depending on national phase filings and any potential extensions (which are rare for this type of patent).
Once a patent expires, the technology it describes enters the public domain. This means anyone is free to use, make, or sell the technology described in the patent without infringing the expired patent. While the specific claims of this 2005 patent are no longer under active protection, the underlying concepts and related technologies have continued to evolve. There’s another post here summarising what’s happened since and the current state of play.
Obtaining a patent doesn’t necessarily mean a company will develop or release a product based on that patent. Google and other info and tech companies file numerous patents to protect their intellectual property and explore potential future technologies, and many of these patented ideas never make it to market for a whole hose of reasons, including technical challenges, market viability, or shifting priorities.
So what’s happened in the last twenty years?
Well clearly no commercial “artificial telepathy” system as described in the 2005 patent has materialized, but significant progress has been made in related fields. The field of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs): has seen tremendous advancement. BCIs aim to create a direct communication pathway between the brain and external devices. While early BCIs were often invasive (requiring implants), there is ongoing research and development in both invasive (like Neuralink’s work on brain implants for medical applications) and non-invasive (using EEG caps, for example) BCI technologies. These technologiesfocus primarily on medical applications (e.g., helping paralyzed individuals control prosthetic limbs or cursors with their thoughts) but the underlying principles of decoding neural activity are relevant. I can’t help thinking that we are moving towards seeing cyborgs on the streets pretty soon.
Implantable Medical Devices: The field of implantable medical devices has advanced significantly, with smaller, more powerful, and more energy-efficient devices being developed for various medical conditions.
Then we have Speech Technologies. Speech recognition and synthesis have become vastly more sophisticated since 2005, thanks to advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning. These technologies are now commonplace in smartphones, smart speakers, and other devices. Most of us have engaged these on our homes and while out and about, asking questions, even engaging in conversation.
Clearly none of these directly replicate the 2005 patent’s full vision, but they do represent building blocks and parallel research efforts that could, in theory, contribute to the development of similar systems in the future. The concept of hands-free, unobtrusive communication, perhaps even driven by subtle physiological signals, is still a big deal. Take for example the various face, expression recognition and movement systems around.
The idea of “artificial telepathy” continues to be more in the realm of ambitious research and science fiction than a currently available consumer technology. Brain-computer interfaces and advanced communication technologies are progressing rapidly, but there are big safety challenges in addition to the challenges of effectively decoding and transmitting rich information directly from the brain in a seamless, telepathy-like manner.
Here’s a link to the original Google Patent application it’s a PDF.
